Phew, 2021 BMW 5-Series Facelift Dodges Huge Grille Trend

Launched four years ago, the BMW 5 Series G30 is in for its first mid-cycle refresh, and our spy photographers snapped it while being tested out on the road.

The latest batch of scoops shows the executive model in Sedan and Touring body styles and if you were concerned that after going under the knife the car will emerge with a huge grille, don’t be: it still looks restrained up front.

The design of the front and rear bumpers has changed compared to the outgoing iterations, and so has the shape of the headlights and taillights. Apart from new wheel and paint options, the rest of the exterior is expected to carry over unchanged,

Mind you, we will find out more about the refreshed 5 Series when the German company decides to unveil it. That could happen in a few months, unless the coronavirus pandemic doesn’t interfere with its plans.

Now, as you may have noticed, the 5-Series Touring prototype has a different front bumper design, and that’s because it’s a plug-in hybrid model, as signaled by the mandatory ‘Hybrid Test Vehicle’ stickers applied to the sides and plug port located on the left front fender.

BMW is already offering the 530e iPerformance PHEV, which pairs a 2.0-liter turbo-four with an electric motor for a combined 248 HP (252 PS) and 310 lb-ft (420 Nm) of torque. The 545e xDrive variant is tipped to join the lineup with the 388 HP (394 PS) six-pot from the 745e.

Additional details surrounding the engine lineup are unknown, but we expect the Bavarians to add particulate filters to the gasoline units to further cut down CO2 emissions. Furthermore, a battery-electric variant is on the cards.

Inside, the facelifted 5-Series will benefit from the latest technology available. New infotainment systems and digital gauges with larger screens will be employed, alongside new buttons on the steering wheel, as previous scoops have revealed. Elsewhere, it will look largely the same as the outgoing iteration.